Valley sophomore Chase Waters of Cupar, Sask., finished third in bareback riding at the Southern Arkansas Rodeo. (Chris Allen/Democrat-News) [Click to enlarge]

MAGNOLIA, Ark. -- Call them Boll Weevils or Cotton Blossoms, the University of Arkansas at Monticello made the short, 110-mile trip to Magnolia a productive one by taking both the men's and women's titles last week at the Southern Arkansas Rodeo.

Led by the Brunson brothers, Wes and Bart, the Weevils racked up an impressive 1,045 points to pass Missouri Valley (640 points) for second place in the NIRA Ozark Region team standings behind defending champion Tennessee-Martin (865).

The Vikings had a solid showing, picking up 275 points in saddle bronc riding as freshman Will Smith, senior Kirk Nelson and sophomore Adam Gilchrist finished in the third through fifth positions -- each getting in two successful rides.

Valley was even better in bareback riding, claiming the second through fifth spots behind sophomores Kyle Brennecke, Chase Waters, David Clapp and Brian Garner.

Brennecke and Clapp were on the team's official roster to provide 240 points.

The rest of the Vikings' scoring came in steer wrestling, with sophomore Jake Shaw placing fifth and Nelson eighth -- missing his shot in the second go-round after posting the low time at 4.6 seconds in his first attempt.

The Valley women didn't enjoy such prosperity, their lone 10 points coming from junior Amy Adametz with an eighth place in goat tying. Sophomore Keeley Christensen of Coal City, Ill., finished second in breakaway roping -- by 1.4 seconds with an 8.5 -- to the Blossoms' all-around winner, Katie Bandy.

The Vikings have two weeks off before the Troy (Ala.) Rodeo on Oct. 11-13.